The hype surrounding Bulkhead’s upcoming WWII first-person shooter, Wardogs, is reaching fever pitch. The game, promising intense 100-player battles and a deep milsim experience, has already amassed over a million wishlists on Steam. Now, the developers are facing an unprecedented level of enthusiasm as thousands of players line up well in advance of the final closed beta.
Unprecedented Demand
Wardogs is gearing up for one last closed beta before its early access launch on September 10th. This beta serves as a crucial stress test, allowing Bulkhead to fine-tune the servers and gameplay mechanics before unleashing the full experience upon eager players. The developers are acutely aware of the potential pitfalls of launching a game with such high expectations, and this final beta is designed to mitigate those risks.
“We’re essentially conducting a controlled burn,” explained Brammer, a key figure at Bulkhead. “We want to see what breaks under pressure so we can fix it before the main event. Opening the floodgates without proper preparation could lead to disastrous results.”
Stress Testing the Limits
The beta is being treated as a true stress test – “Obliterate our servers,” as the latest trailer playfully challenges players. While a free-to-play model would allow for broader testing, Bulkhead’s goal is to simulate the player load expected at launch on September 10th.
Based on previous tests, Bulkhead knows they have their work cut out for them. A recent playtest saw nearly 500,000 players attempting to connect, overwhelming the servers and making it impossible for many to actually play during the first hour. The developers are determined to avoid a repeat of that experience.
Fan Frenzy: 30,000 Players Queue Up
Today, Bulkhead opened the firing range for Wardogs, allowing players to test out weapons and vehicles a full 24 hours before the official beta launch. The response was nothing short of astonishing. Tens of thousands of players descended upon the firing range, eager to get their hands on the game. This level of enthusiasm left the developers in disbelief.
“WHY ARE 25,000 OF YOU GETTING INTO THE SHOOTING RANGE,” Brammer exclaimed on social media today. “YOU PEOPLE ARE CRAZY.”
The firing range eventually peaked at a staggering 30,000 concurrent players. While Wardogs may have some initial hurdles to overcome, its unique format and strong fundamentals are clearly resonating with gamers. The overwhelming desire to get back in the game is palpable, and I’m definitely among those eager to experience it.
The upcoming early access launch on September 3rd promises an intense and engaging WWII first-person shooter experience. With its unique blend of large-scale battles, deep customization options, and authentic milsim elements, Wardogs is poised to make a significant impact on the gaming landscape.
For more information on upcoming games, check out 2026 games. If you’re looking for all-time favorites, explore our list of Best PC games. For those seeking freebies, dive into our collection of Free PC games. Gun enthusiasts should browse our selection of Best FPS games, while RPG fans can embark on grand adventures with our curated list of Best RPGs. And for those who enjoy cooperative gameplay, check out our recommendations for the Best co-op games.
Morgan has been writing for PC Gamer since 2018, first as a freelancer and currently as a staff writer. He has also appeared on Polygon, Kotaku, Fanbyte, and PCGamesN. Before freelancing, he spent most of high school and all of college writing at small gaming sites that didn’t pay him. He’s very happy to have a real job now. Morgan is a beat writer following the latest and greatest shooters and the communities that play them. He also writes general news, reviews, features, the occasional guide, and bad jokes in Slack. Twist his arm, and he’ll even write about a boring strategy game. Please don’t, though.
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